There is a new high-end receiver for the Jets to consider in free agency.
Mike Williams, who was cut Wednesday by the salary-cap-strapped Chargers, is one of the few options available who represents a certain upgrade over Allen Lazard as a No. 2 receiver.
Lazard was one of last offseason’s free-agent prizes but failed to live up to expectations (23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown) on his four-year, $44 million contract.
Williams, 29, topped 1,000 yards in 2019 and 2021, and has averaged 15.6 yards per catch over seven seasons.
The risk, as is the case with many free agents, is injury concern.
Williams’ fast start last season — 19 catches for 249 yards and a touchdown in three games — was cut short by an ACL tear in his left knee Sept. 24. He also has dealt with varying degrees of ankle, back, hamstring and shoulder injuries throughout his career.
The Jets never appeared to be in the game for top free-agent receiver Calvin Ridley — who reportedly agreed to a four-year, $92 million deal with the Titans.
Just two other receivers agreed to significant deals, and both the Jaguars’ Gabe Davis and Falcons’ Darnell Mooney feel like overpays at $13 million per year.
Odell Beckham Jr., who underachieved on a $15 million contract with the Ravens last season, is available again after flirting with the Jets last offseason. Like Beckham, Michael Thomas has been better than Williams at his peak, but both have red flags to out-rival Williams’.
Other productive options include Tyler Boyd, D.J. Chark, Aaron Rodgers’ former Packers teammate Marquez Valdes-Scantling and the released Hunter Renfrow.
Punter Thomas Morstead, a fan favorite, re-signed.
The two-year deal is worth more than $5 million, per reports.
Morstead averaged 48.8 yards per punt, the second-best mark of his 15-year career, and dropped 36 of his NFL-high 99 attempts inside the 20-yard line last season.
Two years after he left the Buccaneers for the Jets, safety Jordan Whitehead is going back in the other direction.
Whitehead, 26, reportedly agreed to return to Tampa Bay on a two-year, $9 million contract that could be worth up to $10.5 million.
It’s smaller than the two-year, $14.5 million deal he signed with the Jets in 2022.
The Jets were comfortable letting Whitehead leave after the development of starter Tony Adams last season then re-signing Chuck Clark this week.
Clark, who started 63 of 96 career games for the Ravens, was acquired by the Jets last March but missed the entire season with a torn ACL.
There are still starting options available on the saturated safety free-agent market. It is possible free agent Ashtyn Davis returns as a backup and special-teamer.
DT Javon Kinlaw’s one-year contract is worth $7.25 million, including $6.91 million guaranteed.
It is a surprisingly high amount given that Kinlaw has five sacks in 41 career games (3.5 in 17 games last season) with the 49ers, but he was a first-round draft pick in 2020 when Jets head coach Robert Saleh was the defensive coordinator.
TE C.J. Uzomah officially was released with a failed physical designation.
